Bottle-capping apparatus



S. W. TAYLOR.

BQTTLE cAPPmG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NAOV. I4, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

'Patented 001.11, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

s. w. TAYLOR.

diff/4 Roms cAPPlNG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.14. 1917.

MVM

s. w. TAYLOR.

BOTTLE CAPPING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED NOV.14, 1917. l 13,392,980, Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

SSHEETS-SHEET 3.

fifa

g ttofome f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL W. TAYLOR, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR T0v THE-CROWN CORK .AND SEAL COT/[PAN Y OF BALTIMORE CITY, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

BOTTLE-CAP?II\TG APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ea oct. 11, 1921.

Application filed November 14, 1917. Serial No. 202,015.

speciiication and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

ThisV invention relates to bottle capping apparatus, and more particularly to the means by which caps, such 'as crown corlrs, are supplied to the capping mechanism.

ln bottle capping apparatus, particularly that type in which the capping mechanism yhas an orbital movement with respect to the chute, and in which crown holding means is provided, it sometimes happens that a crown, fed from the chute, usually by gravity, isnot properly positioned in the capping mechanism,

it is one of the objects of the invention to provide cappingapparatus such that the caps are properly positioned in the capping mechanism.

It is a further object of the invention to provide capping apparatus such that no damage to the machine and interruption to its operation will result in case any of the relative movements of the parts take place out or their normal path or period of movement.

With these general objects in viewl the invention consists in the combinations, details of constructin and arrangements of parts which will rst be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and then-more particularly pointed out.

Figure 'l is a 'vertical cross-sectional view, showing parts in sideelevatioinoit capping vapparatus embodying the invention;

F f2 is a view ol' the same in horizontal cross-section;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation, with parts in section, of the delivery end of the chute and a portion of the capping mechanism;

Fig. a is a view 4in end elevation of the delivery end of the chute;

Fig. 5 is a view in vertical section through the Vparte shown Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a cross-'sectional view taken on the broken line 6-6 oi' Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a similar view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5, and

F 1g. 8 is a detail Vview showin@r g, in horn Vzontal section with parts broken away', a

portion of thepchute structure.

The structure here illustrated fas anexempliication, comprises a crown' supply chute and a plurality of capping mechanisms raving an orbital and a vertical movement with respect to the chute. The capping mechanisms maybe of any suitable construction, their specific Vstructure forming', in itself, no part of the present invention except as hereinafter may appear. l

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly Fig. 1, the capping mechanisms here shown as an example are carried by a cage comprising an upper spider 10 and a lower ring l1 connected by posts 12. As shown, the apparatus includes three capping plungers 13, each one of which has secured to its lower end a throatcarrier 111 which carries the throat ring or cappingdie 15, and a bell-mouthed crown platform 16.

These plungers are slidable in upper bearings 17 carried by a bearing plate 18` and lower bearings 19 carried by a plate 20. These plungers 13 are hollow cylinders containing certain parts of the capping mechanism and they are arranged in the present embodiment to be moved vertically, so that, as the cage rotates, they in turn move downward to cap a bottle.

To this end, as here shown as an example, secured to each plunger is a pair-ot rack bars 21, each pair facing a corresponding pair of racks 22 on an abutment block 23 mounted on the centra-l 1 shaiit 211. ylila/ch plunger passes slidably through an opening 1n a'Correspendinghead 25 extending inward radially fromY a yoke 26 having up by the yoke,v and the upper roller 31 mounted on a stud 33. These rollers ride against a circular cam track 34 which has about two-thirds of its upper and lower cam surfaces in horizontal planes while slightly less than one-third is a depressed portion.V By this arrangement there are always two sets of rollers on the horizontal portion of the track while the third set is on thek depressed portion to operate Vthe plunger. A' f5 In the present embodiment, each head 25 of the three yokes carries a pair of journals on which are mounted pinions 38, each pair of'pinions meshing with the racks 21 of the corresponding plunger and a pair of racks 22 of the abutment block. As the cage rotates, and as the rollers 30, 3l run down the depressed portion of the cam, the heads 25.

carry their pinions 38 downward. The tendencyof this motion is to lower both plunger and abutment block, but movement of the latter is. opposed within a predetermined limit, as. follows: 4The upper end of the abutmentvblock is secured to a spider 39. To the top spider 10 of the cage is secured a depending spring hanger bar 4() surroundedby a tube41 in the bottom of which isa bushing 42 which bears against a nut 43 on the bar40. Bearing against the bushing is a spring 44,theupper end of which bears against an arm 45 of the spider 39. When the pinions38 are moved downward, as long as the corresponding plunger meets with resistance less than the predetermined pressure, the abutment block is held stationary Vand .the pinions'rotate, thus lowering the plunger.V In 'case an eXtra long bottle is encountered, excessive pressure is set up between the capping mechanism and the bottle, with the result that' thereafter, during the down stroke of the pinion, the abutment block is lowered against its spring, the plunger remaining stationary, so that predetermined A,pressure on the bottle is notiexceeded. As the abutment block is moved downwardin this compensating operation, it tends to move the pinions vofthe other two plungers so as to give the latter a slight upward vertical movement from their normal position. y y

VTo rotate the cage, and hence to give an orbital movement to the three capping mechanism, in the exempliication shown, an annular gearl47 is secured to the bottom ring 11 of the cage and this gear meshes with a pinion 48, meshing in turn with a pinion 49 on a shaft 50 which is driven in any suitable manner.

In the present embodiment, each crown platform 16 is cutaway on one side, as shownV more clearly in Fig55, to permit admission of a'crown from the supply chute. This leaves, in eect, asemi-circular, open chamber 51, into the embrace of which the crownsl tit when in capping position and beneath each chamber protrudes the corresponding portion of the bell-mouthed portion of thepart 16, in the form of a lip 52. Between the crown platform chambers are stop plates 151 arranged to'preventthe flow of crowns from the Vchute except 'at such times as one of the crown platforms is in crown-receiving position.

ATWithin each plunger 13 of the present embodiment is a spring-pressed presser Yrod 53 for providing pressure on the crown during capping and holding down the bottle as the plunger rises. Each of these presser rods has associated therewith means for holding inplace caps delivered from the chute. In thelower end of each rod is'formed a bore 54 which carries a small ball 55 being on a c pin 56 and vieldablyY pressed downward by a small sprii'ig 5.7. 1t will be seen that a crown, in order lto take its position, must slide under this spring-premed ball (Fig. 5.)

The crown supply chute 60 has its upper end in register with theoutlet of a source of vcrown supply indicated at 161 and re- Y quiring no description here. This chute is carried for example by a supporting Varm 61 bolted to the frame ofthe machine. To this end, near its upper portion, the chute isembraced by a bracket 162 in pivotal connection with the arm 61, so that the position of the chute may be adjusted. At its lower end the chute of the present embodiment seats between two blocks 62, 63 formed with a passageway serving as a continuation of the crown passage, these blocks beingrsecured to thesupporting arm by bolts or screws 64. ciated with the chute in a manner hereinafter described is a terminal lip 65 which extends (Fig. 5) into the recess of the capping mechanism formed by the open face of the crown platform chamber, so as to form substantially an unbroken path `for the platform.

ICrowns slide down the chute and into the capping mechanism, as the latter takes up the proper position, bya gravity. It sometimes happens, particularly in view of the fact that. the crowns must pass under the spring-pressed ball 55, that gravity and the pressure of the succeeding crowns are not sui'licient to properly position the crowns in the platform chamber.

Means'is provided for positively acting on crowns fed from the chute to center them in position in vthe platformk chamber of the throat carrier, and in structures embodying the invention to the best advantage, this is accomplished by a wiper located beyond the chute so as to lie in the path of uncentered crowns and be engaged bysuch crowns, as the cappingffheadcarries them past, this wiper being yieldable to release jammed Crowns. Although capable of va- 1n the form here shown, asso- Y rious constructions, in that here shown as .an example, mounted as hereinafter described, is a crown wiping latch '66j As appears, for example, in Fig. 6, the wiper 66 is formed with an elbow embracing the end of block 63 against which it normally bears. 'As will be clear from the drawings, the wiper 66 here shown, has a guiding face substantially parallel with the chute and a crown wiping face oblique to the chute. As indicatedl'in the drawings, these crown engaging faces are offset to allow for the crown skirts, and the corners are rounded to prevent crowns from catching thereon.

'Means is provided for yieldably mounting the wiping latch 66. Although capable ot various constructions, as here shown, the wiper 66 is lsecured to a pivotal pin 67 mounted to swing in a bearing sleeve 68 formed ony one side of a bracket 69 which is carried by the supporting armin a manner hereinafter described.

The upper end of the pivotal pin 67 has a cam face 71 engaged by the foot 72 of a plunger 73 pressed against the cam face by a spring 74 inclosed in a sleeve 75 having at its outer end a thumb nut 76. This sleeve is threaded into an eye socket 77 on the bracket 69 and the spring pressure may bev adjusted by movement of the sleeve in the socket.

As appears inthe drawings, the wiper 66 extends into the path of any crown not properly centered in the chamber 51 of platform 16 and it is normally but yieldably held in this position by the spring and the "parts just described. As thecapping mechanisms rotate inthe direction of the arrow (Fig. 2), a crown received by the throat, if not properly centered, engages the wiper 66 as it passes and is forced thereby into proper position, the pressure on ythe crown being suliicient to cause it to pass under and displace the spring-pressed member 55 if each member is present in the capping mechanism. Should a crown4 become jammed between the wiper and any part of the throat, the resulting pressure on the wiper causes the lattery to yield against its spring and swing on its pivot to some such position as that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby permitting the jammed 'crown to be released.v

While the wiper 66has been shown as being close to the chute it is to be understood that the invention includes crown wiping means having other locations beyond the chute. e

In the structure shown, the capping mechanisms are described as moving in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 2). Since rotation in the opposite direction may occur, means is provided for mounting the wiper .for operation in either direction. To this end, in the illustrated, the

bracket 69 has two bearing sleeves for the pivotal pin 67, these beingV symmetrically located with' respect to the chute mouth as appears more clearly in Figs. l and 7. The pivotal pin in ay be located in either bearing and, as will be apparent, the sleeve 75 is readily reversible in its socket 77. l/Vith 4these changes made, the wiper is available for opposite rotation of the capping mechanisnis.

As before described, when compensation takes place with respect to the plungerl in capping position, there is a slight upward moi-*ement of the other plungers. Should .a bottle fail to have been centrally registered with the capping mechanism, it sometimes happens that such a bottle is Vcaught under the lowerl edge of the descending throat carrier. lVhen this occurs, excessive compensation takes place with a correspondingly greater rise et the other plunger, earlier in the cycle than ordinarilj7 takes place. It may happen, therefore, that the particular plunger in cap receiving position starts to rise before the lip 52 of the bellnnouthed platform 16 has passed out from under, and cleared the wiper 66.

The invention in its entirety includes means whereby the wiper is yieldable in a vertical direction, and in structures embodying the invention to the best advantage the bracket which carries the wiper is yieldably mounted on a horizontal pivot. Jalthough capable of various constructions, in the one illustrated, the bnacket 69 is provided wit arms 7 8 which are pivotally mounted on pins 79 carried by the supporting arm 61. Downward movement of the bracket is limited by its engagement with the supporting arm 6l, as appears in Fig. 7, and upward movement is jfieldably opposed as follows: The eye socket 77 of the bracket 69 is provided with a cari face S1 engaged by a plunger 62 pressed thereagainst by a spring 83 inclosed in a sleeve Se which is threaded through an eye socket 85 on the supporting arm 61. The other end of the spring bears against a tuunb nut 66 at the end of the sleeve and the spring pressure is adjustable by means oit the movement of the sleeve in the socket.

Should 'a particular capping plunger start to rise prematurely. that is to say, before the wiper vis cleared. the engagements of the lip of the flaring platform 16'against As will be apparent from the drawings, Y

the terminal lip 65 of thechute extends into but is normally cleared by virtue oit the recessed formation' (Fig. 3).. Means is provided, however, for yieldably mounting vthis lip, so that it will give way in case it is cngag'ed by any portion loi thev relatively moving` parts ot the machine, To this end, in the present embodiment the lip @5 is 'lf'ormed as a stepped up portion oa circular plate 8S Vwhich against the bossed bottom of block 63, the lip 'littinp about the boss. This plate S8 is pivotally mounted on a stud 89 extending downward Y.l5-rom the blocl-r V68, and is held in place by nut 99 and loch nut 9i. As shown more clearly in i? the lip G5 is thusV itl '.sh with that portion Yot' the crown passage formed by block i and at the same time it is movable relati y thereto. When the lipY 65 is in normal crouui-feeding,` positionn a lip 92 on plate 88 against a stop pin 93 on block 63 and the parts are yieldably held in this position follows: Bearing against a stud 9d on the plate 98 is a plunger 95 cut .away (Fig. 7) Vto clear the other parts and pressed against the stud by a spring?,v 96 inclosed ina sleeve member 97' formed on theV bottom of the supporting arm. The `other end oit the springbears against an adjusting nut 98 threaded into the sleeve, the spring;v lr-essure being' adgustable by means ot movement of this nut;`

Should lip G5 be engaged by any portion ot the relatively nioving; parts of the machine, the pressure on the lip causes the stud 94 to displace the plunger 95 against its spring7 the lip swinging to some such position as that shownin dotted lines in Fig. 8. As

,soon as the interfering` part has cleared., the

lip returns to its normal position under the torce of its spring. Y

Since the interferingpart may engage the lip on either side, depending` on the orbital direction ot the capping; mechanism, means is provided whereby the lip maybe mounted to yield in either direction. As here shown,

Vthe supportinglarm is provided with. two Asleeves 97, the plate 88 has two studs 94 and the bloclr @Shes two holes 99 for the stop pin 93,' these parts being' respectively symmetrically located with respect to the central ln case the orbital direction of the capping mechanism is changed, itis merely necessary to shitt the stop pin to the other hole 99 ,andfto transfer the plunger 95, spring` 96 and nut 98 to the other sleeve. y

A'libe structure described., them comprises crown-supplying means, such `that uncentered crowns are positively forced into position; such that the positioning wiper yields horizontally to release jammed crowns and vertically to allow a premature elevated capping mechanism to clear; and such that the terminal lip of the chute is yieldable upon interference with any portion off the moving parts. Further, the structure is an exemplitication'and that the inventionV is not limited `to any particular type of cap.

What is claimedis;

l. ln bottle capping,` apparatus, a crown feeding chute, capping mechanism having an' orbital movementwith respect to said chute, a throat carrier havinga crown platform included inthev capping mechanism and formed with an opening registering` with the. crown passage' ofthe chute,`where by crowns iiow from the chute into` said platform, and means beyond the chute for positively-acting on the crowns to move the same into position in said-platform.

2. ln .bottle capping apparatus, a crown feeding chute, capping mechanism having an orbital movement withrespectto said chute, a throat carrier having a crown platform included in thecapping mechanism and formed with an opening registering with the crown passa-ge of the chute, whereby crowns iiow from the chuteiinto said platform, and means beyond the chute for wiping crowns into centered position in the platform. j

3. ln bottle capping apparatus, a crown 'feeding chute, capping mechanism.'havingV anY orbital movement with, respecty to said chute, a throat carrier having a crown platiorm included in the capping .mechanism and formed withl an openingv Lregistering,` with the crown passage vof the chute-whereby'crowns flow vfromthe :chute into said platform, and wiper beyond theV chute located inthe path ot uncentered crowns to cause the same to be centered in the plat-v Vform.

Il. ln" bottle capping apparatus, a crown .feeding chute, capping mechanism having an orbital movement with respect to said chute, a throat carrier havin0r a crown platforml included in the capping mechanism and `formed with an opening :registering with the crown passage ot the chute, whereby crowns'low from the chute Ainto said platform, and a wiper beyond the chutelocatedV in the path of uncenteredv crowns to cause the same to be centered in the plattorm, said wiper being yieldable to release a jammed crown. y f

5. In bottle capping apparatus, avcrown feeding chute, capping mechanism having .an orbital-movement with respect to said chute, a throat carrier having a crown platform included in the 'capping mechanism and formed with an opening registering with the crown passage of the chute, whereby crowns flow i'rom therchute into said laol incasso platform, a yieldable member associated with the platform Aarranged to engage a crown to hold it in place, and'nieans for positively acting on the crowns to move the same into position in said platform. 6. In bottle capping apparatus, ,a crown feeding chute, capping; mechanism having` an orbital movement with respect to said chute, a throatcarrierhaving a crown platform included in the capping mechanism and formed with an opening registering with the crown passage ofthe chute, whereby crowns flow from the ychute into said platform, a yieldable member associated with the platform arranged to engage a crown to hold it inplace, and means fon' wiping crowns into centered position in the latform.

7. 1n bottle'capping apparatus, a crown feeding chute, capping mechanism having an orbital movement with respect to said chute, a throat carrier having a crown platform included 'in the capping mechanism and formed with an opening registering with the crown passage of the chute, whereby crowns flow from the chute into said platform, a yieldable member associated with the platform arranged to engage a crown to hold it in place, and a wiper beyond the chute located in the path ofuncentered crowns to cause the same to be centered in the platform.

8. In bottle capping apparatus, a crown feeding chute, capping mechanism having an orbital and a vertical movement with respect to said chute, a throat carrier having a crown. platform included in the capping mechanism and formed with an opening` registering with the crown passage of the chute, a wiper located in the path of uncentered crowns for causing the same to be moved into position in the platform, a portion of the capping mechanism moving in a path below said wiper, and means `for mounting the wiper to permit the same to yield vertically.

9. In bottle capping apparatus, a crown feeding chute, capping mechanism having an orbital and a vertical movement with respect to said chute, a throat carrier having a crown platform included in the capping mechanism and formed with an opening registering` with the crown passage of the chute, and a wiper for moving crowns into position in the platform, said wiper being yieldable horizontally and vertically.

10. 1n bottle capping apparatus, a crown feeding chute, capping mechanism having an orbital and a vertical movement with respect to said chute, a throat carrier having a crown platform included in the capping mechanism and formed with an opening registering with the crown passage of the chute, a wiper located in the path of uncentered crowns for causing the same to be tend into the orbital path of the capping*` mechanism. Y

12. In bottle capping apparatus, a crown feeding chute, capping mechanism having an orbital movement with respect to said chute, a lip yieldable in the direction of such orbital motion associated with said chute to form a terminal thereof, and means for normally holding said lip in crown feeding position.

13. 1n bottle capping apparatus, a crown feeding chute, a terminal lip associated there-with, means for mounting said lip to yield in one direction in a substantially horizontal plane, and means for mounting the lip to yield in the opposite direction.

1li. 1n bottle capping feeding chute, capping apparatus, a crown mechanism having van orbital and a vertical movement with respect to said chute, a wiper beyond the chute located in the path of uncentered crowns to cause the same to be centered in the platform, and means for mounting said wiper on either side of said chute.

15. 1n bottle capping apparatus, a crown feeding chute, capping mechanism having an orbital movement with respect thereto, a crown centering latch, a pivotal pin on which said latch is mounted, a spring pressed member for yieldably holding said latch and pivot in normal position, and means for adjusting the force of said spring.

16. 1n bottle capping apparatus, a crownping mechanism and formed with an open-` ing registering with the crown passage, wherebycrowns iiow from the chute into said crown platform, and a crown wiper beyond the chute having a crown guiding face substantially parallel with the chute and a crown wiping face oblique to the chute.

18. In bottle capping apparatus, a

lcrown feeding chute, capping mechanism moving past said chute, a throat carrier having a crown platform included in the capping mechanism and formed with an opening registering withl the crown passage, whereby Crowns flow from the chute into said crown platform, and a yieldably mounted crown wiper beyond the chute having a crown guiding face substantially parallel Awith the chute and a crown 'wiping face oblique to the chute.

19. In bottle capping apparatus, a crown feeding `chute, capping mechanism having an orbital movement with respect to said chute, a' yieldable crown centering wiper, means inoluding a spring for holding said wiper Vin normal position,l and means for adjusting the force of said spring.

20. In bottle capping apparatus, a crown 20 feeding Chute, Capping mechanism vhaving an orbital movement with respect to said chute, a pivotally mounted Crown centering wiper, means including a spring for holding said wiper in normal position, and means 25 for adjusting the force of said spring.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,392,980, granted October 11,

1921,. upon the application of Samuel W. Taylor, of Baltimore, Maryland, for an improvement in Bottle-Capping Apparatus, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 45, 'for the Word each read such; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ooe.

Signed and sealed this 22d day of November, A. D., 1921.

[SEAL] WVM. A. KINNAN,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

